Gladys Pedersen
Gladys Pedersen
HARTINGTON — Gladys Pedersen, 85, Hartington, died Nov. 25, 2022, at the Arbor Care Center, Hartington. Visitation was Nov. 29 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartington. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Nov. 30, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartington. Live streaming of Gladys’ services can be found at: my.gather.app/remember/gladys-pedersen Interment will be at a later date. Gladys Elaine Pedersen was born Sept. 8, 1937, to John and Selma (Wittler) Konken at the family farm northeast of Coleridge. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge. She attended country school until the eighth grade, later achieving her high school diploma through Nebraska GED in 1975. As a teenager, she worked for many local families cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and caring for children. At age 16, she began working for McDonalds Clothing Store, Hartington, until she got married.
She married Marvin Pedersen, Feb. 5, 1956, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge. They made their home in Hartington, building their first house while living in the basement until the top floor was finished in 1960. To this union three children were born.
Gladys was always busy. While raising three children, she still found time to help her aging parents and neighbors and volunteered at church. She always made sure everyone celebrated their special days by hosting many birthday and anniversary parties for family members. She had a great fondness for preparing coffee, cake and cookies.
In 1968, Marvin started his own earthmoving business. This took Gladys from being a full-time homemaker to being a part-time heavy equipment operator. She referred to this as “a picnic every day.” As her sons and grandsons took over the role of “Marvin’s assistants,” she was known as the greatest lunch box packer ever.
Gladys was almost as passionate about her cooking as she was about her grandchildren. Every holiday was special to her, and many memories were made with everyone getting together for Grandma’s delicious meals and sweet treats while playing board games or card games that were never as much fun to play anywhere else.
In 1975, Gladys and Marvin bought an acreage east of Hartington, building a new house and moving there in 1977. Gladys and Marvin loved to travel, making many trips traveling from Maine to California, but also overseas to Spain, Germany and Denmark.
Gladys is survived by her three children and spouses, Doug and Nancy Pedersen, Trevett, Maine; Debbie and Kent Brummels, Hartington; David and Penny Pedersen, Norfolk; grandchildren, Jeremy and Veronica Brummels, Jeff and Lisa Brummels, Chris Brummels, Laura Brummels, Hope Pedersen (Lance Bulin), Sara Pedersen, Jacob Pedersen (Paige Snodgrass), and Sergio Pedersen; and one great-grandson, Nathan Brummels; brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Lorraine Pedersen, Yankton, S.D.; sisters-in-law, Delores Konken, Hartington; Viola Weatherwax, Parkersburg Iowa; and Doris Bell, Scottsdale Ariz.; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, May 2015; her parents; brothers, Marvin, Norman, Wendell, Elmer, Clarence, Vernon and Gerald; sister, Lorna Vedder; and an infant brother.